Brit Leissler

A detailed look at the fabrication process behind high-end ski manufacturer Zai located in the heart of the Swiss Alps. With a focus on materials and performance, Zai creates some of the fastest, lightest and most durable skis on the planet.

Photography by Brit Leissler for Core77
There has always been a big buzz about the Maison & Objet show, which happens twice a year in Paris—and, as of a couple of years ago, Asia, where the brand has expanded to include a large tradeshow in Singapore as well as various "road...

Anyone who has ever visited the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, would probably agree that it is one of the most fascinating buildings that he or she has ever been in the presence of. Even in pictures, one can sense the almost magical aura of this massive marble memorial, which...

Based in a former bread factory in Berlin's Mitte district is the production of IC! Berlin—a frames company that has its roots in a design student graduation project of the University of the Arts (UDK) from 1996. Students at the time, Harald Gottschling and Philipp Haffmanns had the idea to...

If you are among the two million people who would have liked to expose their senses to the biggest revolution in cooking since the discovery of fire by visiting the legendary elBulli restaurant on Spain's Costa Brava, but didn't manage to do so before it closed two years ago, here...

The Viennese design group breadedEscalope (Sascha Mikel, Martin Schnabl und Michael Tatschl) transformed the entrance area of the Vienna outpost of Stilwerk into a temporary workshop in order to turn 'misfits' of the THONET chair production into make-shift, one-off chair designs. For those who might not be familiar, Stilwerk is...

Within the Passionswege ("pilgrimage ways") craft and design project of Vienna Design Week, Vienna-based designer Valentin Vodev was asked to collaborate with J. L. Lobmeyr, the renowned Viennese glassware manufacturer, now run by the sixth generation.Vodev developed a series of pictograms to reveal "secret" information about the long-standing Lobmeyr product...

For one of the Passionswege projects of Vienna Design Week, London-based designer Mathias Hahn was assigned to work with Staud's, a Viennese producer of fine vegetable and fruit preserves.Hahn created an intriguing installation in which he approached the world of Staud's by poetically addressing color, material and the meaning of...

Mostlikely, a Viennese design collective, reproduced the Vienna Basilisk during Vienna Design Week. According to a Viennese legend from the 13th century, this mythological creature comes to life "when a rooster lays an egg which is hatched by a toad, and the offspring is reared by a snake". It was...

Industrial design graduate Lena Goldsteiner is currently showcasing her graduation project "Theatre of Destruction" during this year's Vienna Design Week. In the "Gschwandtner" location—a disused all-purpose-hall from the 19th century—she installed the complete set up to perform her project, which is all "about repair, destruction and reproduction". Visitors are invited...

An unusual liaison of material and function: pan and brush made from horn and pig hair by bespoke craftsmen.The concept of the Passionswege ("pilgrimage ways") program—an integral part of Vienna Design Week—is to connect designers with local Viennese producers and businesses in order to enforce the exchange of expertise, the...

Every second year the aviation industry and aircraft enthusiasts converge at the world's most iconic airshow in South East England. The aerospace sector dominated this year with Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo making it's European debut.

A seat with a found typewriter provided a lot of fun, particularly for the kids of the digital age, who never had used one of those before...Anybody who has ever been to the Salone in Milan, will be familiar with the work of the Esterni collective, known for their public...

During Vienna Design Week, kidsroomZOOM inhabited a 200 square meter apartment in the centre of Vienna, featuring furnishings by 25 selected international designers. The show was a snapshot of contemporary design for children—uniting art, product presentation, events and workshops in a fun and hands-on way. The presentation was done in...

Under the title of Waste Not, Want It, the London Bloomberg offices commission different UK designers every year to transform their office waste into design installations. Raw-Edges design studio, Shay Alkalay and Yael Mer, repurposed an avalanche of used computer monitors, each filled with animation hand-drawn by designer and illustratorOscar...

A very fun and at times—sorry, but it has to be said—rather gross performance was part of Vienna Design Week: Sonja Stummerer, Martin Hablesreiter and Tom Hanslmaier of the Viennese architecture and design practice Honey & Bunny were preparing and serving food using the tools and machinery of industrial craftsman.Located...

As we mentioned with yesterday's report on the Philippe Malouin and J&L Lobmeyr collaboration, the Passionswege ("pilgrimage ways") program of Vienna Design Week hooks up young international designers with Viennese companies renowned for their high quality products in order to create an exchange of traditional craft skills and contemporary design...

This year, Canadian designer Philippe Malouin was paired with the renowned Viennese glass company of J. & L. Lobmeyr through the annual Vienna Design Week Passionswege program. Erstwhile purveyors to the court, the company has devoted itself for nearly 200 years to the refinement and finishing of glass material.In order...

London based designers Joe Wentworth and Samuel Wilkinson have developed a new take on the pendular clock. As many of you may remember, Wilkinson designed the wildly popular Plumen bulb which we debuted in the United States at Hand-Eye Supply."Pendola," their contemporary take on the classic grandfather clock is rather...

Vienna Design Week is in full swing and we are delighted to be able to share our impressions from the Austrian capital. Now in its fifth year, the festival has a wide and very diverse selection of events, exhibitions, talks and indeed very unusual locations on offer—to bring the world...

Newly-established Marion Friedmann Gallery curated an interesting show in Brompton Design Quarters during the London Design Festival. Enlightened Waste showcased two designers working with recycled materials.Thierry Jeannot, French-born but currently based in Mexico, has been working exclusively with the PET bottle as his raw-material for the last five years. He...

When visiting our friends from dezeen in their "pop-up gallery, store, video studio and micro-event space" during London Design Festival, we were particularly intrigued by these Moments in Time, designed by London based Dominic Wilcox. Watch the video to hear the designer talk about his new work.

Gallery FUMI exhibited newly commissioned work from three different design studios during the London Design Festival. Under the name of Studioware, they curated an exhibition showcasing solid wood furniture by Max Lamb, as well as plaster mirrors and paper planes by Studio Glithero, and ceramic work by German designer Johannes...

With London Design Festival in full swing, we finally had a chance to sit down for a drink and what better place than the opening of Designmarketo's newest pop-up project: Bar Alto. Everyone who has ever been to Salone Milan Design Week, will be familiar with the infamous Bar Basso—the...

London-based designer Bethan Laura Wood really identifies with her own designs—here we see her showing off her new Particle jewelry collection using OSB board to create whimsical bracelets and necklaces as well as a preview of her "Pivot and Push" rings made from lasercut silver plated in rose, black and...

The two recent Royal College of Art graduates Max Frommelt and Arno Mathies have come up with an ingenious and beautiful solution for a flat pack water vessel: the Foldboat. Made from a 5mm thick sheet of P.E. plastic, it can comfortably transport 2 people when folded, and when unfolded...

A presentation of flea market treasures as part of the quest to identify Balkan design.El Turco Digital is a fresh creative company based in Istanbul, Turkey that develops and creates digital ideas (viral campains, online documentaries, etc.). The collective explains that they're "analogue people in a digital world, bringing zeros+ones...

Russian-born, Bulgarian-based graphic designer and illustrator Vicky Knysh installed an intriguing fantasy city, completely made from cardboard, for this year's Sofia Design Week. The little houses, cars, labyrinth and "local residents" were not only a big hit for kids but captivated grown-ups in equal measure.This gentleman, with a mustache and...

London-based Design Marketo orchestrated a great project for Sofia Design Week. This time their temporary hangout place and pop-up shop was all related to lemons, in particular lemonade. A variety of really nice design objects was on show, commissioned specifically for this event. My favorite object is Lemon Toys by...

During Sofia Design Week Puma is running a Creative Factory where everyone is invited to design their own jacket. The cut is always the same (available in different sizes) but the colors of the various pattern parts (seven in total) can be chosen individually. So, for the equivalent of about...

The members of Cherga Design Group, a group of young Bulgarian designers, are currently showcasing their latest products in the Lozenets Water Tower for Sofia Design Week. The water tower is an amazing place with a long winding staircase and various levels, presenting an interesting mix of great projects.Featured above...

In case you didn't know, Sofia Design Week is happening now with a wide range of very interesting shows, talks and workshops. Now in its third year, the festival producers Edno, a very active cultural group also responsible for creating Edno Magazine, must be congratulated for establishing a really impressive...

The Bangkok International Gift and Homeware Fair has wrapped up earlier this week, and we took a glance at what the self declared "Soul and Style of the Orient" had on show. If that title evokes exotic expectations to you, frankly - you would have been disappointed.Because, although taking the...

FlyNY invites you to design and donate an original, handmade kite for the 2nd Annual NYC international kite design competition. Upload your design ideas to Architizer.com and present your kite on August 21st at a public kite flying showcase on Pier I in Riverside Park. FlyNY will short-list...

For the 23rd time SIDIM, the International Interior Design Show, was held in Montreal last week. We were invited to have a good look around and very much enjoyed this quite special little Canadian show. Even though ICFF in New York had only just folded a few days before, the...